Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is potentially a very attractive agent for treating type 2 diabetes. We explored the effect of short-term (1 week) treatment with a GLP-1 derivative, liraglutide (NN2211), on 24-h dynamics in glycemia and circulating free fatty acids, islet cell hormone profiles, and gastric emptying during meals using acetaminophen. Furthermore, fasting endogenous glucose release and gluconeogenesis (3-3 Hglucose infusion and 2 H 2 O ingestion, respectively) were determined, and aspects of pancreatic islet cell function were elucidated on the subsequent day using homeostasis model assessment and first-and second-phase insulin response during a hyperglycemic clamp (plasma glucose ϳ16 mmol/l), and, finally, on top of hyperglycemia, an arginine stimulation test was performed. For accomplishing this, 13 patients with type 2 diabetes were examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Liraglutide (6 g/kg) was administered subcutaneously once daily. Liraglutide significantly reduced the 24-h area under the curve for glucose (P ‫؍‬ 0.01) and glucagon (P ‫؍‬ 0.04), whereas the area under the curve for circulating free fatty acids was unaltered. Twenty-four-hour insulin secretion rates as assessed by deconvolution of serum C-peptide concentrations were unchanged, indicating a relative increase. Gastric emptying was not influenced at the dose of liraglutide used. Fasting endogenous glucose release was decreased (P ‫؍‬ 0.04) as a result of a reduced glycogenolysis (P ‫؍‬ 0.01), whereas gluconeogenesis was unaltered. First-phase insulin response and the insulin response to an arginine stimulation test with the presence of hyperglycemia were markedly increased (P < 0.001), whereas the proinsulin/insulin ratio fell (P ‫؍‬ 0.001). The disposition index (peak insulin concentration after intravenous bolus of glucose multiplied by insulin sensitivity as assessed by homeostasis model assessment) almost doubled during liraglutide treatment (P < 0.01). Both during hyperglycemia per se and after arginine exposure, the glucagon responses were reduced during liraglutide administration (P < 0.01 and P ‫؍‬ 0.01). Thus, 1 week's treatment with a single daily dose of the GLP-1 derivative liraglutide, operating through several different mechanisms including an ameliorated pancreatic islet cell function in individuals with type 2 diabetes, improves glycemic control throughout 24 h of daily living, i.e., prandial and nocturnal periods. This study further emphasizes GLP-1 and its derivatives as a promising novel concept for treatment of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE—The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of NN2211, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) derivative, in healthy male subjects. The secondary objective was to investigate the pharmacodynamics of NN2211. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—In a double-blind, randomized dose, escalation, placebo-controlled study, healthy male subjects were enrolled at eight consecutive dose levels (1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 17.5, and 20.0 μg/kg) with eight subjects per dose level at a 3:1 active:placebo randomization. After subcutaneous dosing with NN2211, 48-h pharmacokinetic, and 24-h glucose, insulin and glucagon profiles were assessed. In addition, three subjects at each dose level were randomly assigned (one placebo/two active) to an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) 9 h after the dose (corresponding to the time to maximal plasma concentration of NN2211). RESULTS—After subcutaneous administration, the half-life of NN2211 was found to be 11–15 h. Overall, although there were no statistically significant differences compared with placebo in the area under the curve (0–9 h for insulin or glucagon), there was a borderline- significant lowering of glucose levels (P = 0.066). During the IVGTT, there was a statistically significant increase in insulin secretion (P = 0.0002), but there was no significant effect on glucagon levels. Although no significant effect was observed on glucose levels during the IVGTT, there was a dose-dependent increase in the glucose disappearance constant. Whereas no serious adverse events were observed, there was a higher incidence of adverse events after active treatment compared with placebo treatment (notably headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting). CONCLUSIONS—This study provides evidence that NN2211 has a pharmacokinetic profile consistent with once-daily dosing in humans.

OBJECTIVE -Liraglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 analog designed for once daily injection. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of liraglutide after 12 weeks of treatment in type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-A double-blind, randomized, parallelgroup, placebo-controlled trial with an open-label comparator arm was conducted among 193 outpatients with type 2 diabetes. The mean age was 56.6 years and the mean HbA 1c was 7.6% across the treatment groups. Patients were randomly assigned to one of five fixed-dosage groups of liraglutide (0.045, 0.225, 0.45, 0.60, or 0.75 mg), placebo, or open-label sulfonylurea (glimepiride, 1-4 mg). The primary end point was HbA 1c after 12 weeks; secondary end points were fasting serum glucose, fasting C-peptide, fasting glucagon, fasting insulin, ␤-cell function, body weight, adverse events, and hypoglycemic episodes.RESULTS -A total of 190 patients were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. HbA 1c decreased in all but the lowest liraglutide dosage group. In the 0.75-mg liraglutide group, HbA 1c decreased by 0.75 percentage points (P Ͻ 0.0001) and fasting glucose decreased by 1.8 mmol/l (P ϭ 0.0003) compared with placebo. Improvement in glycemic control was evident after 1 week. Body weight decreased by 1.2 kg in the 0.45-mg liraglutide group (P ϭ 0.0184) compared with placebo. The proinsulin-to-insulin ratio decreased in the 0.75-mg liraglutide group (Ϫ0.18; P ϭ 0.0244) compared with placebo. Patients treated with glimepiride had decreased HbA 1c and fasting glucose, but slightly increased body weight. No safety issues were raised for liraglutide; observed adverse events were mild and transient.CONCLUSIONS -A once-daily dose of liraglutide provides efficacious glycemic control and is not associated with weight gain. Adverse events with the drug are mild and transient, and the risk of hypoglycemia is negligible.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a potent glucoselowering agent of potential interest for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. To evaluate actions of NN2211, a long-acting GLP-1 derivative, we examined 11 patients with type 2 diabetes, age 59 ؎ 7 years (mean ؎ SD), BMI 28.9 ؎ 3.0 kg/m 2 , HbA 1c 6.5 ؎ 0.6%, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. A single injection (10 g/kg) of NN2211 was administered at 2300 h, and profiles of circulating insulin, C-peptide, glucose, and glucagon were monitored during the next 16.5 h. A standardized mixed meal was served at 1130 h. Efficacy analyses were performed for the fasting (7-8 h) and mealtime (1130 -1530 h) periods. Insulin secretory rates (ISR) were estimated by C-peptide deconvolution analysis. Glucose pulse entrainment (6 mg ⅐ kg ؊1 ⅐ min P atients with type 2 diabetes experience relative insulin deficiency as well as delayed and blunted meal-related insulin response (1). Glucagon excess contributes to the elevated fasting and postprandial glycemia (2). Because of a marked and glucosedependent insulinotropic action and a restraining effect on glucagon release, glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an obvious candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (3). In addition, GLP-1 delays gastric emptying and reduces appetite in patients with type 2 diabetes also in nonemetic doses (4). Continuous intravenous infusion and repeated subcutaneous injections of GLP-1 (7-36 amide) effectively reduce fasting plasma glucose as well as meal-related glycemia (3,5). Even in patients with type 2 diabetes and secondary failure of sulfonylurea treatment, GLP-1 has been demonstrated to reduce glycemia effectively (6).Increased ␤-cell function has been reported after overnight GLP-1 infusion, as measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and by first-and second-phase insulin secretion (7). The secretagogue effect is achieved by a concomitant increase of basal (nonpulsatile) and highfrequency pulsatile insulin release in patients with type 2 diabetes (8). In a study of ultradian insulin pulsatility, GLP-1 was reported to restore glucose entrainment in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (9), indicating preferential effects on the coordination of insulin release.GLP-1 is rapidly cleaved by dipeptidyl-peptidase IV after both intravenous and subcutaneous injections, and the development of long-acting derivatives is needed for clinical use. NN2211 is an acylated GLP-1 derivative with prolonged action due to a combination of albumin binding, metabolic stability, and slow release from the injection site. NN2211 has shown a favorable pharmacokinetic

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) stimulates insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, but its short half-life limits its therapeutic potential. We tested NN2211, a long-acting GLP-1 derivative, in 10 subjects with type 2 diabetes (means ؎ SD: age 63 ؎ 8 years, BMI 30.1 ؎ 4.2 kg/m 2 , HbA 1c 6.5 ؎ 0.8%) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. A single injection (7.5 g/kg) of NN2211 or placebo was administered 9 h before the study. ␤-cell sensitivity was assessed by a graded glucose infusion protocol, with glucose levels matched over the 5-12 mmol/l range. Insulin secretion rates (ISRs) were estimated by deconvolution of C-peptide levels.